Jethro Tull-Toronto 2005 review

Dear friends, Tull fans & diehards

With a heavy heart and, writing with the belief if you haven't got something nice to say-say nothing-heck is this possible

At the Lucia Micarelli violin concert last night-funny thing my ticket said 'Jethro Tull' Lucia shone wow! with Tull in tow Kashmir blew me away- very good- excellent to be exact and a brief but wonderful Bohemian Rhapsody-all instrumentals- the key word here-instrumental the instrumental performances were well presented-Serenade To a Cuckoo-Bourree & She Is Like A Swallow-Feat, Ian Anderson kicked off the night with Life's A Long Song- well at least one soul yelled turn up the volume-the vocal was hardly there, then into Skating Away-the crowd sang this for the most part-again the vocal was but a whisper-Oh Anderson was belting it out but the voice box was not up to the task!
This was the lowest volume I've ever heard at a concert bar none-the drum-kit volume being the exception Barre's playing was as fluid as ever-the bass player Jonathan Noyce just looked plain bored silly-I believe he thinks this is cool-from comments on one of Tull's DVDs, but this is Tull-jump up man! Andrew Giddings seems to be more involved with what was going on off stage-Oh the best light show of the night was in the crowd -someone promoting a DVD-me thinks??



Ian Anderson's voice was transparently transparent on every song Cross Eyed Mary-Slipstream-Beggar's Farm-Mother Goose-Hymn 43-Up To Me-Budapest-Locomotive Breath-My God-Aqualung
Weathercock-Jack In The Green!

No Brick was played last night- I believe this is the first Tull show since Brick without Brick that I've seen!

Lucia Micarelli played with Tull for a good portion of the show!

Jethro Tull -not loud enough especially the vocal -failing lead vocal

Ian's jokes hit the mark with the audience-he danced across the stage in fine flute form - an instrumental delight-the fans were polite and the one encore Loco/Cheerio-was performed and everyone seemed to be happy leaving the building-so not all was lost! only the vocal!

Was this a :thumbsdn: bad review or a good review? even I'm confused!

The live Aqualung CD given away at the door to every ticket holder-came in a soft sleeve cover-got two - the first one I opened had a large scratch on the play side

 

Was it because Ian has a cold or do you think his voice is shot?

 

shot! in concert at least! '92 concert was the same- a guy sitting next to me in '92 asked "when did Ian lose his voice?"

 

Thats too bad...I'm going to see Tull this weekend in NYC.

 

I saw Tull last year and it was still a thrill. Seems like Ian and the band are trying to keep it fresh and interesting for them by introducing guest musicians. Using Lucia Micarelli doesn't seem out of place since Tull once used a violinist in the early to mid 80's with Eddie Jobson. Again, too bad about Ian's voice though as he is the heart and soul behind Tull.

The Aqualung Live cd can be purchased as a UK import for those not attending a concert during the North American tour. I purchased a copy thru CD Universe and it's okay I guess. I've heard Aqualung a zillion times so really, this is only for completists. All proceeds are being donated to charitable organizations to help the homeless. Kudos to the band for trying to make a difference.

Picked up Ian's new solo cd the other day. Ian Anderson performing instrumental Tull music backed by an orchestra. Gee, didn't David (now Dee) Palmer do that with the London Symphony Orchestra back in the late 80's? Again, not bad but a little redundant. I really wish Tull would concentrate on a new studio album.

 

Me too! What a coincidence!

 

Wow, that's a lot of Aqualung! Did you get a chance to check out the live CD?

I'd say the review is somewhere between and :thumbsdn: . And you didn't seem to overstate the good or bad.

Still--you got to see Tull.

 

I bought the Live Aqualung CD from amazon.co.uk. I was a bit disappointed overall - it is one of those discs I am glad I have, but would probably only listen to a handful of times.

 

'97 concert was the same. Ian Anderson's voice was shot. Instrumentation that night was spot on! Martin Barre was in top form.

I wrote a review for the concert back then. Can't find it, but I have the set list.

Jethro Tull
Jack Singer Concert Hall.
Calgary, Alberta
October 26, 1997

A Song for Jeffrey
Aqualung
Thick As A Brick
Dangerous Veils
In Sight Of The Minaret
The Whistler
Beside Myself
Martin's Instrumental
Farm On The Freeway
Bouree
Mother Goose
Flying Dutchman intro - My God
In The Grip Of Stronger Stuff
Nothing Is Easy
Locomotive Breath
Aquadiddley
Living in the Past
Dogs In The Midwinter instrumental finale
Cheerio

 

Anderson's voice has been "shot" since 1984. That doesn't mean the concerts still aren't fun.

 

Listening now to the non skipping scratched CD-(if this was vinyl I'd be skipping mad! ) Live Aqualung-sound is OK just OK - remix engineer Ian Anderson >get a sound-man >a little echo- too much for some?
Oh the proceeds of this goes to homeless charities...buy buy buy

I've been to the offical chat site for Tull and the reviews for Back Against The Wall Pink Floyd tribute are all positive! Ian's voice and flute are praised!

I've got a copy! 2CD I'll open that when I've finished with Live Aqualung!

signed-spoiled brat!

 

but it makes me

 

Well, I'm going to see them on the 15th mainly because my son really wants to go. I keep telling him that they are old men don't expect much. Didn't realize how right I might be.

 

Sounds like you enjoyed it in spite of Ian's vocal problems. I'm always pleased and surprised when a rock concert exceeds my expectations - usually I'm disappointed by live rock performances (but I don't go to that many).

Seeing Roxy Music live a few years ago was much much better than I had expected !

 

Massey Hall setlist-Oct. 4, 2005

Life Is A Long Song
Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day
Slipstream
Beggar's Farm
Jack In The Green
Up To Me
Weathercock
Wond'ring Aloud
Theme from 'The Godfather'
Kashmir
Cheap Day Return
Mother Goose
Bouree

20 minute break

Nocturne/Bohemian Rhapsody
She Is Like The Swallow
Cross Eyed Mary
Serenade To a Cuckoo
Hymn 43
Empty Cafe
My God
Budapest
Aqualung
Locomotive Breath
Protect & Survive/Cheerio

 

Was Lucia Micarelli the opening act? I'm trying to gage when exactly the Tull concert begins.

How soon after 8PM?

 

No opening act: Lucia played violin-just another member of the band if you will!
Lucia featured with Tull back-up-(Anderson with flute) on Led Zep's Kashmir, Theme from the Godfather, Nocturne/Bohemian Rhapsody(Queen) & She Is Like A Swallow/ she played an unnamed instrumental between Empty Cafe & My God-oh let's see how my memory is hmmm-Lucia performed on Empty Cafe, Mother Goose, Cheap Day Return, Locomotive Breath, Bouree, Budapest, and Protect&Survive.

Hope that clears things up!

The show started just after 8pm 8:04? until 9:15 break and 9:35pm to 11:05pm

 

thanks!

I see Lucia was born in NYC and is quite accomplished at such a young age. Plus she's a looker!

 

Ian's voice was shot when I saw them in '97. The current tour has a great set list.

 

Your review was so disjointed that I stopped reading. Complete sentences tend to help.

 

A review of a review! cough! cough! hack! hack! furball! you can't touch this!

 

look at Terry all this time in here! gluing the disjoints!

 

I saw Tull in Lowell, Massachusetts last night. It was a very good show. At times, I felt Lucia (can't think of her last name) seemed to be given a little too much spotlight time, but at least she was easy on the eyes. Most people seemed to like her, but I recall one guy barking at the person behind the mixing desk "This ain't Jethro Tull!!" and storming out of the auditorium at the beginning of the second set. A few people sitting in my row were making some not so nice comments about Lucia as well.

But Ian sounded pretty good vocally, better than what I was expecting. This had to have been the most mellow Jethro Tull I've ever seen. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it's a long way from the old days in terms of energy and showmanship. If you saw Tull last year on their acoustic/electric tour of America, this is a similar concert with a similar setlist.

 

Mellow yes, my wife commented, if Lucia played more than she did, with all due respect it would have been time to yell out where's Jethro Tull, LOL Ian's voice probably varies from night to night, because on recent solo recordings (Rupi's Dance) and on Back To The Wall the voice is in fine form.

 

I saw Tull on Thursday night in Lowell and again last night at Foxwoods.

I thought they were fantastic as always. I've seen Tull on pretty much every tour since the late '80s and I've long since learned to live with Ian's voice.

Lucia Micarelli was absolutely fantastic both nights. She stole the show and I'm glad she did. The natives were restless in Lowell ... one guy behind us got thrown out for continuing to yell, "Play Tull!" during Lucia's quieter moments. A real music lover, apparently

Rant: Having been to see Tull so many times I have to say that the "Aqualung Only Fans" as we call them are really annoying. These people don't realize that Tull has been making new music since after 1975. They sit politely (sometimes) through an hour and a half of show, not knowing most of the songs, and then scream their heads off for Aqualung and Locomotive Breath. What, they've never heard these songs before? The guy behind us last night was woofing for the last 20 minutes of the show. The worst part is that these people consider themselves to be FANS...

Last night Ian forgot to change instruments at the end of a song and he admitted it while continuing to banter and get setup for the next song. During the banter he promised one more song (this was about 3 songs into the show) and a guy yelled, "LOCOMOTIVE BREATH". Ian looked at him blankly for a minute and cooly replied, "What about the foreplay? We old guys take longer to get to the climax than we used to"

ANYWAY, the violin really added a lot to the Tull songs, since so many of the old ones have violin on them anyway. Lucia's playing was amazing to watch. She used her whole body to play that thing -- from her face right down to her bare feet. I picked up a copy of her CD, and then while hanging around out front after the show in Lowell we got her autograph and had a picture with her.

Last night before the show, Andy Giddings and Jonathan Noyce could easily be seen wandering through the casino at Foxwoods. It's amazing how well they blended in, but they were gracious when recognized.

Hope you guys enjoy Tull at Carnegie Hall tonight... unfortunately I got the impression last night that it was Lucia's last night on the tour. A serious bummer for you guys in my opinion...